It has been exactly a week after that dreadful date and I have been ignoring Hazel's attempt at a second one with her cousin. I mean if Jacob was busy, he could've asked if we could reschedule or he could've told me to keep waiting for him, not that I mind waiting. It is very fascinating to wait for someone for more than an hour or so *que the sarcasm*
Now we are currently packing for a 2 weeks' vacation to Fiji to which we will be attending Ben and Hazel's wedding. It has been a long time coming to the fact that they still couldn't decide what kind of theme do they want for their wedding. I mean there's only 2 weeks left until they tie the knot and here, they are, still considering the theme.
"Thee- Thee?" Maddy called me as she stood there in front of my bed pulling me out of my thoughts. I immediately smiled at her and gestured for her to come on bed and sit beside me as I continue packing.
"What's up my baby seal?" I asked and teased her to which she just laughed and lunged at me with her body.
We wrestle for a minute or two laughing at each other.
"Can we go visit Mom and Dad before we head off to Fiji?" she asked me with sadness.
My heart instantly became heavy at the thought of our parents and I try to blink back the tears fighting to let loose and make their way down my cheeks.
I cleared my throat and offered a small smile to Maddy before nodding. She squealed in happiness before running to Nick to tell him the good news.
I released a breath of relief as I continue packing, putting shorts, t-shirts and other necessities in my bag.
I felt someone looking at me and I quickly turned around only to see James looking at me.
"How have they been coping without them these past few years?" he asked sadness dripping from his voice.
I shrugged and turned back and continued packing.
After a few minutes of silence, I turned back to see him quietly sniffing. I sat down the floor at the foot of my bed and gestured for him to come sit beside me.
He sat down and immediately his arm went around me as he hugged me. I pull him closer to me as I comfort my brother who didn't have to time to mourn for our parents. His cries pierced my heart and I blame myself because I wasn't there to help him through his time of need. True that he left us but he was still my younger brother and I had promised my parents that I will look after all of them.
"I am sorry that I left. I left you here alone with both Maddy and Nicky and I have hated myself since then. I didn't know how to come back; I didn't know how to face you and the twins" he cried into my shoulder.
"Shhhh its ok Jamie. You're here now and that's all that matters. Hmmm now stop crying" I comforted him.
"I can never forgive myself for how I left you guys, I ---"
"Listen here you big baby. We don't hate you nor do we hold a grudge against you for leaving us. We were all in pain and we have different ways to cope with it. Forgive yourself because we don't have to forgive you for anything at all, you didn't do anything wrong" I explain to him and he simply nodded his head before hugging me again seeking comfort.
I rocked him back and forth like a baby as he kept sniffling.
As I comforted Jamie in my arms, I heard small footsteps making their way towards my room and two small faces appeared on my doorway.
Maddy was the first followed by Nicky. They saw us hugging and immediately pouted.
"Hey!! I want a hug too!!" Maddy yelled as she ran over to me pulling Jamie out of my arms before snuggling onto me with her face buried to my shoulder.
I laughed at Jamie's face of shock and he pouted at Maddy before pulling his tongue out to Maddy in a teasing way.
"Hey!! No fair, I want a hug too!!" Nicky yelled as he ran over to me on the other side and snuggled towards me.
"And what about me?" Jamie asked as he pouted towards the twins.
The twins just looked at him and laughed. Nicky being him always has something to say in 3….2….
"You're a big guy, you don't need hugs. For crying out loud Jamie you went to Afghanistan and held guns and bombs and you still want hugs. Grow a pair. Its our turn to be babied not you" he said as he stuck his tongue out towards Jamie before snuggling back into my arms.
….1.
And that ladies and gentleman is Nicky for you.
Jamie was starstruck at what Nicky said and immediately carried him away from me and tickled him as they went tumbling over to my bed.
Maddy looked at Nicky and Jamie tickling each other. She then looked at me and stood up. "Nah uh, there is no way that we are going to tickle each other like complete idiots. We're better than this" she said before she pulled me away towards the door and locked them in my room.
"Men" she mumbled.
"Anyways Thee- Thee can you please help me pack before we go to see Mom and Dad in the afternoon. Pretty please please please please please please" she asked me wither famous puppy eyes.
I laughed and nodded ad off we went to Maddy's room.
As soon as we enter her room, I saw her clothes everywhere. On the bed, on the floor, on her nightstand, even one t-shirt served as a doormat to her room door.
What in the world happened here? A huge tornado? I thought as I looked around. Gees this girl is going to be a lot in her teenage years.
I was about to ask Maddy why her clothes are literally everywhere but she beat me to it by simply saying "Don't ask".
I laughed as I look around her room one more time. No wonder Nicky demanded to have a separate room from Maddy when they turned 6.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that the twins are only 7 years old. They are so smart and mature for their age it amuses me really how they keep up with everything that happens around them.
"So, what do you need help with?" I asked Maddy to which she stops pulling her clothes from her suitcase and stared at me with her mouth open.
"You can't be serious Thee-Thee?" she exclaimed.
"Have you seen my room?? It looks like a giant threw up at it?" she dramatically exclaimed.
"That's why I asked for your help Thee- Thee. I don't know what to pack. I thought I could fit my doll house in my suitcase but clearly, I cannot. More likely the suitcase can not carry such precious items" she pouted at me as she sat down on the floor and crossed her arms looking at me for answers.
I laughed at how silly she is. "Honey you can't pack your doll house. We're not moving to Fiji we're just going on a small vacation and attend Ben's wedding. So, you can only pack your clothes—"
"That's what I was trying to do Thee- Thee. I can't even put all my fluffy princess dresses in there!!" she cut me off as she exaggerated.
"Fiji is a hot place. You can pack your shorts, t-shirts, and summer dresses. Don't forget your undies" I calmly said and went over to pick her up and place her on her bed and I quickly proceeded to unpack the clothes she had on her suitcase before I start folding the mentioned clothes and placing them neatly in her suitcase.
"Can I also bring my Frozen swimsuit?" she asked me as she quickly got off the bed and went over to her drawer no doubt to get the swimsuit out.
"See, you got the hang of this. We will back in no time. We are going to have loads of fun by the beach, the pool and out by the town." I explained to her and continued packing.
"Ow ow ow owwwww. Nicky let go of my ear. I promise I won't do it again" I heard Jamie says as he came into view with Nicky pulling on his ear as he climbed on top of Jamie's back.
"Liar!! You always are going to do it again!!" Nicky yelled as they went all the way back to Nicky's room.
Maddy just shakes her head at their playful behavior and started taking out her summer dresses and sandals.
Unlike me, Maddy is well put together like our mom. She knows what to wear with what, how to pair it up with a pair of shoes and how to style her hair that goes with her clothes.
Me, on the other hand. Just grabs whatever I see and put it on, not minding what style I go with, as long as it covers my body, I'm good to go.
"So that means that we are going to spend our school holidays at Fiji!!" Maddy screamed.
"Yay!!! We're going to have fun right Thee- Thee? And we'll get to see our aunties and uncles and they'll tell me and Nicky stories of Mom and Dad." She excitedly says as she began putting all her summer clothing's in her suitcase with only a few of her coats, jackets and a pair of her uggs.
Well, it looks like she does not need my help anymore.
"Okay, I'm going to go and start with dinner. Any special requests?" I asked her as I continue my way out of her room.
I turn back around to see her shrugging "anything is fine Thee- Thee. You always make delicious food so whatever is fine"
"Okay then. Let me know how your packing is afterwards." I said and quickly made my way to the kitchen.